Aggies’ Harris checks out of hospital; Smith still dealing with ‘issues’

COLLEGE STATION – Texas A&M received some good news on the basketball front on Monday, and it had little to do with hoops. It was all about health.

Senior guard Fabyon Harris checked out of the hospital, two days after fainting during the Aggies’ shootaround in the hours prior to A&M’s 71-60 victory over Ole Miss in Reed Arena.

A&M coach Billy Kennedy described the scene as “eerie,” with an unresponsive Harris on the court for at least a few minutes, multiple observers said. The staff and players gathered around Harris in prayer, and when he regained consciousness he was taken to the hospital, where he had been since.

The Aggies leave for Columbia, Mo., on Tuesday for a Wednesday night game, and Quisenberry added that it’s “questionable” as to whether Harris will travel with the team. Kennedy said after Saturday’s game that Harris might’ve fainted because he hadn’t eaten anything that morning.

Meanwhile the status of Harris’s freshman teammate, guard Shawn Smith, is still up in the air. Smith, apparently an impetuous sort, missed Saturday’s victory with what Kennedy dubbed “personal issues,” and Kennedy said after the game, “We thought it would be best if he got away for a couple of days.” Per Quisenberry, Kennedy said on his radio show on Monday night that Smith was still dealing with his issues and no timetable had been set for his return.

The Aggies, 17-12 overall and 8-8 in SEC play, are fighting to make the postseason – perhaps the National Invitation Tournament – for the first time in Kennedy’s three seasons. They’ve won four of their last six games in a late-season run.

They play at Missouri on Wednesday night, and then play their final home game on Saturday against Auburn. The SEC tournament in Atlanta follows from March 12-16.